SC State Resumes Spring Drills, Conducts First Scrimmage Saturday

Friday, March 23, 2007

ORANGEBURG, SC – The South Carolina State football team resumed spring drills Friday afternoon, following a day off on Thursday, working out in pads for the first time and prepping for its first scrimmage, set for 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Dawson Bulldog Stadium.

Friday’s workout was a little sluggish at the beginning, according to head coach Buddy Pough, however, the session got more enthusiastic later in the drill as the players adjusted to wearing pads for the first time.

“It was our first day in pads,” said Pough, “and you could tell early on, however, as we got deeper into our drills, the enthusiasm picked up. We are working hard towards getting in shape and installing our alignments.

“In the short time that we have been working out,” he continued, “I think the players are beginning to get a better feel for what we are trying to accomplish. I was especially impressed with the defense.”

In Saturday’s scrimmage, the Bulldogs will have just one quarterback – last year’s backup Bryan Hardy, a redshirt junior. Senior Cleve McCoy, the starter the last two seasons, is out with a flu-like illness, and Russell Hemby, who shared the backup duties with Hardy last year, has been shifted to defense.

“The quarterback situation is kind of a tough deal for us right now with McCoy out,” Pough said, “but we will get it done. Hardy will get all the work and we will get a good feel of what he can do.”